The Amazing Octopus

An octopus is a cephalopod mollusc of the order Octopoda. It has two eyes and four pairs of arms and, like other cephalopods, it is bilaterally symmetric. An octopus has a beak, with its mouth at the center point of the arms.

Octopuses are considered the most intelligent of all invertebrates. Scientific studies are increasingly confirming that they are sentient creatures.

A few Facts about the Octopus:

As active predators they need to explore, understand and remember their environment and the behaviour of other animals. Studies have shown that octopuses learn easily, including learning by observation of another octopus. And did you know….They are the first invertebrates to be seen using tools, such as using coconut shells to hide from potential predators and using rocks and jets of water in a way that could be classified as tool use.

The common octopus has a wide array of techniques it uses to avoid or thwart attackers. Its first—and most amazing—line of defense is its ability to hide in plain sight. Using a network of pigment cells and specialized muscles in its skin, the common octopus can almost instantaneously match the colors, patterns, and even textures of its surroundings. Predators such as sharks, eels, and dolphins swim by without even noticing it.

They have been found to play with a ‘toy’ and to have individual responses and individual temperaments, with some scientists believing they have individual personalities.

All octopuses are venomous, but only the small blue-ringed octopuses are known to be deadly to humans. There are around 300 recognized octopus species, which is over one-third of the total number of known cephalopod species. Did you know….Octopuses have four pairs of arms and they have three hearts. Two pump blood through each of the two gills, while the third pumps blood through the body. They also have beaklike jaws that can deliver a nasty bite, and venomous saliva, used mainly for subduing prey.